My intended major is cybersecurity. Since my major is cybersecurity, there isn’t a particular focus but I would ideally like to focus on cybercrime prevention. Technically, I am a rising junior. However, since I took summer classes this year and last year. I am currently a rising senior credits-wise. I chose Old Dominion University for various reasons such as the academic program, the online program, and it has the “Big School” feel. Life at college this semester feels rewarding. Rewarding due to the obstacles I have gone through inside and outside of school. This sense of reward also spills into a sense that these accomplishments don’t feel real yet.
Old Dominion University has been beneficial for my character building, increase in knowledge, and academic experience. The years of being a student at ODU have been tough, exhausting, and busy. However, all of those issues don’t overshadow this feeling of accomplishment. All the hardship and work have built my character. To continue on my academic experience, going through “three years” worth of school so far, I have exponentially obtained more knowledge on various things. These subjects I have grown on vary from literature, math, science, and of course cybersecurity. The academic experience at ODU has been tough but seamless. In almost every single class that I have taken at ODU, I have faced different challenges but have been able to overcome them. It also helps that ODU has one of the best collectives of professors, in my opinion of course. It has lived to my full expectations as a first-time college student. However, I am lacking the real “experience” of college since I decided to do it online.
To me, the benefits outweighed the negatives. The benefits were mobility and ease of going to school. According to Program Director, M.Ed. in School Counseling at American Public University Kimberlee Ratliff, Ed.D., NCC, NCSC: “Since students in online programs are drawn from many places, one advantage is that students are placed for the practicum and internship component of their education in schools throughout the United States and internationally.” This helps my claim that education online can honestly be conducted almost anywhere. Another positive is that being online helps me maintain my time better. According to the Drexel University School Of Education: “Online courses teach students how to manage their time better since the student bears the responsibility of engaging with the course instead of simply showing up to class on an assigned day and time. As a result, students not only gain knowledge from the coursework, but they also sharpen their time management skills.” These sources both relate to my circumstances and base that online school has given me the same academic opportunity as being in person. It just lacks some of the social experience. The lack of “social experience” hasn’t been too bad for me since I have friends that go to the community college in my area. This gives me the college feel even while I am at home.
My current goals are to complete my last Fall and Spring semesters and finally cross that finish line for college. My ambition is still there but time does a lot to ambition, especially when you do full semester school all year round. However, I am still hungry for success and that feeling of accomplishing more. Since my first year, my plan has not changed but my mindset has been sharpened. I see the finish line and I have tunnel vision for it. In the short term, I see myself finishing college. Long term I have a few things in my such as traveling more when out of college, obtaining a job, and finally establishing myself financially.
My current work experience is next to none. However, to combat that I have included some things as a backup. I have included my use of certification to show as a placeholder for internships to help instill a job after school. This class has helped me plan out and make a portfolio on the reflection and projects I have completed for future jobs and such. All and all the future is bright, this class’s combination with ODU’s educational tool has been the overall perfect mix. This passage does a good job of depicting the perfect intent of eportfolios from Capella University.
“Portfolios are a great way to demonstrate the competencies you would list on a resume or talk about in an interview — they allow you to show and not just tell. During a job search, the portfolio showcases your work to potential employers. It presents evidence of your relevant skills and abilities. Portfolios are also helpful for independent contractors, consultants, or business owners who need to provide work samples to potential clients.
Outside of a job or client search, archiving samples of your work to a portfolio is a great way to keep track of your accomplishments and make note of when you acquired key competencies. Having it all together in a portfolio can be useful during your yearly review or helpful if you decide to go for a promotion. It can take quite a while to put together a portfolio, so make sure it’s up-to-date to prepare you for unexpected situations like layoffs and sudden changes to your job.
Anything that demonstrates your accomplishments and abilities should go into your portfolio. Think you don’t have anything to put in a portfolio? Think again. What major projects have you worked on recently or over the years? Select some of the deliverables associated with it, and add it to your portfolio.
Here are some items you may be able to include in your portfolio:
Current resume or CV
Diplomas, certificates, and transcripts from post-high school institutions
Reference letters, awards, testimonials, and LinkedIn recommendations
Work samples that you have created, for example:
Curricula
Proposals
Marketing materials
Spreadsheets or reports
PowerPoint presentations
Graphics or layouts
Database infrastructure
Project plans
Evaluations and/or performance appraisals
Published articles and writing samples
Link to blog or sample of blog post
Thank you notes or emails from clients or co-workers (University, 1)”
If I were to redo everything, I would not necessarily do anything different. But, not because I did everything right the first way. In fact, all the mistakes that have occurred made me the person I am today. I would not change anything for this reason. I have become proud and independent from all of these obstacles. I hope you were able to grasp my story and see my progression throughout this short semester.
Works Cited
Staff, Edge. “Exploring the Advantages of Online Counselor Education.” Edge, 25 Aug. 2020, https://apuedge.com/exploring-the-advantages-of-online-counselor-education/.
“The 10 Benefits of Online Learning.” School of Education, https://drexel.edu/soe/resources/student-teaching/advice/benefits-of-online-and-virtual-learning/#:~:text=Online%20courses%20teach%20students%20how,sharpen%20their%20time%20management%20skills.
“Value and Literary Study.” Humanistic Perspectives in a Technological World, 11 Sept. 2015, https://leading-edge.iac.gatech.edu/humanistic-perspectives/value-and-literary-study/#:~:text=For%20starters%2C%20studying%20literature%20can,this%20should%20be%20clear%20enough.
“Why a Portfolio Is Important for Your Career: Career: Capella University Blog.” Capella University, https://www.capella.edu/blog/career/why-a-portfolio-is-important-for-your-career/#:~:text=During%20a%20job%20search%2C%20the%20portfolio%20showcases%20your,need%20to%20provide%20work%20samples%20to%20potential%20clients.